lean · incline

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 傾 expresses tilting or leaning in a direction and is read けい in 傾向(けいこう).
• Basic usage: 傾く(かたむく) describes being or becoming tilted, while 傾ける(かたむける) describes tilting something.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Physical and figurative uses
  • 家業が傾く means that a family business declines. 声に耳を傾ける means listening attentively to a voice.